Francesco Maria Santinelli

Who is Francesco Maria Santinelli?

Francesco Maria Santinelli was an Italian marquis, count, Marinist poet, librettist, freemason and alchemist. In Senigallia Christina, Queen of Sweden was welcomed in verse by the handsome Santinelli and his brother, Ludovico, an acrobat and dancer. Both seem to have been accomplished scoundrels. A year later Ludovico was witness and participant at the murder of Gian Rinaldo Monaldeschi at Fontainebleau. After the scandal she promised Pierre Chanut Ludivico and his two helpers would have to leave her court.